Reader Spotlight: Spencer E. Zubrow

Meet Spencer E. Zubrow, a bassist who currently attends Berklee and got his musical start by stealing a guitar from his brother before coming to his senses and picking up the bass.

Spencer is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of June 16, 2014. Be sure to check out his “Bernadette” play-along below!

Bio:

I grew up in Central New Jersey and spent my teenage years playing in local Rock bands along with school Jazz Bands, Pit Orchestras, Choirs, Chamber Music groups and Jazz trios. I currently study at Berklee College of music with Jim Stinnett. Through my studies with Professor Stinnett I have had the privilege of performing with names such as Michael Manring, Joe Hunt and Grant Stinnett. The main focus of my studies is to learn the language of the jazz masters through transcription.

Location:

Boston, MA

Day gig:

I consider practicing the bass at least 6-8 hours a day my day job! Aside from that I also teach a number of students privately.

Years experience:

7 years

Bands & Gigs:

Currently, I am not in a band practicing takes up 90% of my time each day. My goal is to be in the top %5 of the world of bass within the next decade.

Gear:

Main Basses:

• Le Fay D-Tuner Bass
• Le Fay Remington Twenty 7 Steele
• Le Fay Singer 6-String 32″
• Fodera Monarch Deluxe 5 string

Amplifiers:

• Phil Jones Double 4′
• Mark Bass 15″ Speaker Combo Head II

Why I play the bass:

At the age of 13 I literally stole my brother’s Gibson Les Paul out of his room (he wasn’t playing it at all anyway). About a year later I realized that what I was hearing every time that listened to a song was the bass line so later that week I walked into the music store and bought my first bass. The rest is history :)

My bass superpower/claim to fame:

I am naturally inclined towards playing Jazz and Motown! I wouldn’t call it a superpower but I can pull out a good deal of transcribed Paul Chambers Solos and walking lines as well as a number of Jamerson bass lines!

My influences:

My top three biggest influences are Paul Chambers, James Jamerson And Jaco.

Other names include Ray Brown, NHØP, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, Michale Manring, Grant Stinnett, John Clayton, Carol Kaye, and Rocco Prestia!

Videos:

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More on the web:

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